Roles simultáneos y severidad del cuidado en sobrecarga de cuidadoras no remuneradas de familiares mayores

Abstract

Women assume a disproportionate burden of unpaid caregiving work and are at high risk of experiencing caregiver burden, which can be exacerbated if they fulfill other concurrent roles or if the care required is more severe. The objective of this study is to measure the burden on unpaid caregivers of older family members in Santiago, investigating how this burden increases due to the presence of concurrent roles and the severity of the care required. Using a non-probability survey (n = 527), logistic regression models were estimated for the burden variable (Zarit Scale), including as predictors whether the caregiver lives with a child, is in paid employment, and the care recipient’s level of dependency. Control variables and interaction effects between the analyzed roles were included. Thirty-seven percent of unpaid caregivers experience severe burden, which was associated with greater dependency and living with the care recipient. A significant interaction was also found between living with children and having paid employment; caregivers who have paid employment and live with children experienced reduced burden. It is concluded that children can serve as a source of support for these women by allowing for some distribution of caregiving responsibilities within the household.